A Reaction Product from Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Trimethylamine Oxide

The main reaction product obtained when butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and tri-methylamine oxide (TMAO) were thermally treated in liquid paraffin under a nitrogen stream at 180 C for 1 hr, was investigated. The crystalline substance obtained by the silica gel chromatography was recrystallized from ethanol and identified as the BHA dimer of biphenyltype, i.e., 2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′-dimethoxy-3,3′-di-tert-butyl biphenyl, by means of the elementary analysis and the spectroscopic studies.

The BHA dimer was found to be inferior to BHA in the antioxidative activity which was compared according to the weight gain method, in either case when lard (at 60°C) and methyl esters of linseed oil (at 30°C) were used as substrates. The dimer showed a synergism with TMAO.     

Reaction conditions for maximal cyclodextrin production by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Bacillus megaterium

The effect of the reaction conditions (substrate concentration, enzyme dosage, and pH) on cyclodextrin production by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Bacillus megaterium was investigated by applying mathematical modeling methods. Adequate models were developed and they were used for determination of the optimal conditions for maximal formation of beta-cyclodextrins at minimal concentrations of a- and gamma-cydclodextrins. The main factor affecting the ratio of the products was pH of the reaction mixture. At pH 9 the enzyme formed mainly beta- and y-cyclodextrins and the ratio a:beta:gamma was 2.6:83.5:13.9; at pH 5 the ratio changed to 8.6:84.6:6.8. Mathematical models were used for determination of the conditions for maximal conversion of the substrate into cyclodextrins. 45.88% conversion of starch was achieved at 5% substrate concentration, 3.5 U/g enzyme dosage, and pH 7.4.     

Transformation of Bacillus megaterium by electroporation

Summary Plasmidic DNA was introduced into intact cells of Bacillus megaterium by electroporation. The procedure showed an efficiency of 10³ transformants g^–1 DNA.     

Pencillin amidase production by Bacillus megaterium

Penicillin amidase, an enzyme which hydrolyzes benzylpenicillin to 6-aminopenicillanic acid and phenylacetic acid, is produced by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 14945 as an extracellular enzyme. We used this system as a model to examine the effects of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous limitation on enzyme production in continuous culture. For these studies, we developed a minimal medium for B. megaterium which contained histidine as the sole nitrogen source. Batch experiments showed that this enzyme is produced as a growth-associated metabolite. Enzyme production was shown to be a function of the growth-limiting conditions and the concentration of the inducer, phenylacetic acid. Sulfur limitation in continuous culture yielded enzyme activities approximately three to five times those observed in nitrogen- and phosphorous-limited chemostats. These results are discussed in terms of the environment's influence on enzyme production in continuous culture.     

Energy-dependent uptake of urea by Bacillus megaterium

Evidence for the existence of an energy-dependent urea uptake system in Bacillus megaterium DSM 90 was obtained by studying the uptake of 14C-urea. In vivo urea uptake and in vitro urease activity differed significantly with respect to temperature- and pH-dependence, kinetic parameters and response towards metabolic inhibitors. Highest uptake activities were observed during exponential growth, and a rapid decrease in urea uptake occurred when cells entered the stationary growth phase and started to sporulate. Significant differences in the uptake rates were observed during growth with different nitrogen sources, suggesting that the formation of the system is under nitrogen control.     

Uptake of inorganic pyrophosphate by Bacillus megaterium

Cells of Bacillus megaterium take up inorganic pyrophosphate, employing a saturable carrier which is sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents, orthophosphate, and arsenate. Uptake is stimulated by proton ionophores, including CCCP and nigericin, indicating that proton cotransport can lead to an opposing gradient. Inhibitor sensitivity, as well a relatively high Km for inorganic pyrophosphate render it likely that uptake is mediated by an orthophosphate transport system.     

Biolistic transformation of a procaryote, Bacillus megaterium

We present a simple and rapid method for introducing exogenous DNA into a bacterium, Bacillus megaterium, utilizing the recently developed biolistic process. A suspension of B. megaterium was spread onto the surface of nonselective medium. Plasmid pUB110 DNA, which contains a gene that confers kanamycin resistance, was precipitated onto tungsten particles. Using a biolistic propulsion system, the coated particles were accelerated at high velocities into the B. megaterium recipient cells. Selection was done by use of an agar overlay containing 50 micrograms of kanamycin per ml. Antibiotic-resistant transformants were recovered from the medium interface after 72 h of incubation, and the recipient strain was shown to contain the delivered plasmid by agarose gel electrophoresis of isolated plasmid DNA. All strains of B. megaterium tested were successfully transformed by this method, although transformation efficiency varied among strains. Physical variables of the biolistic process and biological variables associated with the target cells were optimized, yielding greater than 10(4) transformants per treated plate. This is the first report of the biolistic transformation of a procaryote.     

Siderophore-Mediated Aluminum Uptake by Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213

The bacterium Bacillus megaterium ATCC 19213 is known to produce two hydroxamate siderophores, schizokinen and N-deoxyschizokinen, under iron-limited conditions. In addition to their high affinity for ferric ions, these siderophores chelate aluminum. Aluminum was absorbed by B. megaterium ATCC 19213 through the siderophore transport receptor, providing an extra pathway for aluminum accumulation into iron-deficient bacteria. At low concentrations of the metal, siderophore-mediated uptake was the dominant process for aluminum accumulation. At high concentrations of aluminum, passive transport dominated and siderophore production slowed the passive transport of aluminum into the cell. Siderophore production was affected by the aluminum content in the media. High concentrations of aluminum increased production of siderophores in iron-limited cultures, and this production continued into stationary phase. Aluminum did not stimulate siderophore production in iron-replete cultures. The production of siderophores markedly affected aluminum uptake. This has direct implications on the toxicity of heavy metals under iron-deficient conditions.     

Spore-spheroplast transformation of Bacillus megaterium

A new method for transformation of Bacillus megaterium was developed by modification of Chang and Cohen's method. In our method, spore spheroplasts were used as recipient cells instead of the protoplasts of vegetative cells. Longer incubation (60 min) of spore spheroplasts and plasmid DNA before treatment with polyethylene glycol remarkably increased the efficiency of transformation. The frequency of transformation was about 10(4) per microgram of plasmid DNA. A shot-gun-type cloning of chromosome DNA of B. megaterium ATCC 12872 was available in B. megaterium ATCC 19213 strain by this transformation method.     

Expression of a Bacillus megaterium sporulation-specific gene during sporulation of Bacillus subtilis

The gene for the Bacillus megaterium spore C protein, a sporulation-specific gene, has been transferred into Bacillus subtilis. The B. megaterium gene was expressed little, if at all, during log-phase and early-stationary-phase growth, but was expressed during sporulation with the same kinetics as and at a level similar to that of the analogous B. subtilis genes. This finding is most consistent with the regulation of this class of genes by a mechanism of positive control.